NEWS

Come learn about how to keep the POWER in your hands, spaces are limited so please reserve a place. Gold coin donation appreciated details attached

WAIKATO ENVIROEXPO & LIFESTYLE BLOCK EXPO

Don’t forget to put aside the dates April 10th 11th 12th at the Claudelands Event Centre for free entertainment and learning. We will also have retail products available including worm farms with a special show price on the giant Hungry Bin!

USUALLY $295......... show special $275

RAGLAN COCONUT YOGHURT BACK IN STOCK

This yoghurt has been very popular and fresh stocks have now arrived!

HAMILTON ORGANIC GARDENERS

The next HOGs meeting is on 11th April at 2pm at the Environment Centre (at 242 Peachgrove Rd, near the 5 x Roads roundabout. There’s loads of parking behind the shops and you can enter the EC through the back door).There will be a demonstration of how to make Apple Cider Vinegar and some to taste. We’ll discuss the benefits of using ACV (as its often called) by drinking it and it’s uses around the house and in the garden. It's a great way to use windfall apples.The swap table will be there. It would be great if you could bring along your extra plants, seedlings, produce, apples! etc. You’re welcome to sell items also.Light refreshments will be served. $2 Entry to cover costs thanks.

GREEN RIBBON AWARDS

The 25th Green Ribbon Awards, which honour New Zealand's environmental leaders, are to be a joint endeavour for the first time between the Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Conservation. Ministers Barry and Smith have requested a more integrated approach to the awards between the Ministry and the Department to showcase our work together in a 50/50 partnership process to the wider community. The Ministers have also indicated their desire for the Loder Cup award to also be presented at the Green Ribbon Awards Ceremony from 2016.

The Green Ribbon Awards recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals, organisations, businesses and communities to protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment.

The Green Ribbon awards for 2015 have been revised from the previous 12 awards to the following 10 categories:

Environmental Projects Leadership

Protecting our biodiversity Business leadership

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions Community leadership

Minimising our waste Leadership in communication and education

Protecting our coasts and oceans Public sector leadership

Caring for our water Philanthropy and partnership

Past winners include school groups that have encouraged environmental awareness among the next generation, businesses that have made sustainability integral to their day-to-day work, and community groups that have planted thousands of trees, eradicated pests and protected native species.

Minister Barry and Minister Smith issued a joint media release about the Green Ribbon Awards on 5 March 2015.

If you’re after something different for the holidays either for yourself or an evening out with the kids, book in for an evening ‘Bat Tour’ through the Waikato Museum , see attached for details and booking

FOREST & BIRD CONSERVATION UPDATE

Not only will the proposed Ruataniwha water storage lake in Hawke’s Bay lead to poorer water quality in the Tukituki River Catchment, but it will also lead to mature native forest being destroyed.

This mature podocarp and beech forest in the Ruahine Forest Park is home to long-tailed bats and other rare and threatened native species. To allow this land to be buried under the lake, the Department of Conservation is proposing revoking its conservation park protected status and to swap it for a block of private land.

In a submission to DOC on the proposal this month, Forest & Bird said both steps - revoking the conservation park status of the 22 hectares and the land swap – would be unlawful….see more view it in your browser.